Sex offender who won $10M lottery charged with sexually abusing boy in Uxbridge

Monday

Mar 17, 2014 at 6:00 AMMar 18, 2014 at 4:15 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

UXBRIDGE — A 62-year-old Level 3 sex offender who won a $10 million state lottery prize in 2008 has been arrested on charges he sexually abused a boy for several years and showed him pornography.

Daniel T. Snay, 62, of 558 Elmwood Ave., was arrested by Uxbridge Police on several child sex abuse and other charges Friday afternoon. Monday at his arraignment in Uxbridge District Court, he was ordered held on $5 million bail.

Chief Jeffrey A. Lourie said in an interview that police believe other sexual assaults may have occurred in Connecticut and Rhode Island and are working with authorities in both states. The chief said Mr. Snay may have had contact with the boy in those states. The alleged crimes occurred when the teen was between the ages of 8 and 14, the chief said.

"Mr. Snay was the recipient of a $10 million dollar lottery award and that windfall aided the commission of the crimes," police said in a news release.

Chief Lourie believed Mr. Snay used the cash to groom and gain favor with people.

Police had been receiving reports from concerned residents that Mr. Snay was in close contact with young children, but it wasn't until recently that someone came forward, Chief Lourie said. State Department of Children and Families officials also had been contacted. A police investigation was conducted and it resulted in Mr. Snay's arrest.

Mr. Snay was arrested on charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14, subsequent offense; reckless endangerment of a child; enticement of a child; and dissemination of pornography to a minor.

"The alleged crimes continuously occurred over a four-year period and the Uxbridge Police Department will be working with authorities from the state of Connecticut and Rhode Island, as crimes are also alleged to have occurred within their jurisdictions," police said.

The Uxbridge Police Department is asking anyone who has any information concerning suspicious activity involving Daniel Snay to contact the Uxbridge Police Department Sexual Assault Unit, at (508) 278-7755. The investigating officer is David Bergeron, assisted by Officers Timothy Dean and Daniel Deveau.

Mr. Snay was convicted six times of indecent assault and battery in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 2008, he bought a $20 scratch ticket at a Cumberland Farms in Hopedale and won $10 million. He was working as a truck driver for a yacht dealership in Mendon in 2008. Records on the state's Sex Offender Registry Board list him as living in Uxbridge and working in Mendon.

Mr. Snay's record goes back to 1974, when he received a one-year suspended sentence for indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He violated probation and was sent to jail for a year. Two years later, in 1976, Mr. Snay was sentenced to serve 5 to 7 years in state prison after he was convicted of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.